Taphole closures

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to taphole closures for furnaces and more particularly to an automated means of presenting the taphole closure means to a furnace. Taphole closures in the form of darts with elongate tails are known, and given their weight are difficult to present to a transport arm. The object of the invention is to overcome this difficulty, an objective met by a means of loading a taphole closure means into a steelmaking vessel comprising a holder for at least one taphole closure means to hold the or each taphole closure means with an uppermost rod substantially vertical, lifting means able to engage the uppermost rod and lift the taphole closure means, control means to bring the lifting means to the taphole closure means in the holder and to cause further movement of the lifting means to bring the taphole closure means to the location of and into contact with a releaseable clamp means at the end of a transport arm, means to cause the lifting means to disengage from the uppermost rod and activate the releaseable clamp, and a means of moving the transport arm from a position of rest where it receives the taphole closure means to a position where it can be inserted into a steelmaking vessel to load the taphole closure means into the vessel.

[0001] This invention relates to taphole closures such as are used in the metallurgical industry in the tapping of steelmaking vessels to control or preclude slag exit and hence slag contamination of the molten metal being poured. More particularly the invention relates to an automated means of presenting the taphole closure means to the furnace.

[0002] Taphole closure means in the form of bodies of refractory or other heat resistant materials, in the form of so-called “darts”, other shapes and balls are well known, and equally well known is to provide the refractory body with a lowermost tail to locate in a: taphole, and an uppermost rod to be gripped by a means of loading the closure means into the vessel at a point on the slag surface above the taphole.

[0003] Given the weight of such taphole closure means, transporting them to a loading machine, and lifting them to allow the uppermost rod to be gripped by gripping means at the end of a transport arm is an arduous task requiring strenuous effort on the part of the operative.

[0004] The object of the invention is to avoid those disadvantages mentioned above.

[0005] According to the present invention, a means of loading a taphole closure means into a steelmaking vessel comprises a holder for at least one taphole closure means to hold the or each taphole closure means with an uppermost rod substantially vertical, lifting means able to engage the uppermost rod and lift the taphole closure means control means to bring the lifting means to the taphole closure means in the holder and to cause further movement of the lifting means to bring the taphole closure means to the location of and into contact With a releaseable clamp means at the end of a transport arm, means to cause the lifting means to disengage from the uppermost rod and activate the releaseable clamp, and a means of moving the transport arm from a position of rest where it receives the taphole closure means to a position where it can be inserted into a steelmaking vessel to load the taphole closure means into the vessel.

[0006] Preferably, the holder for the taphole closure means is a rack-like structure able to hold an array of such means, each with its uppermost rod in a substantially vertical condition.

[0007] The lifting means for the taphole closure means, may be a body provided with a releaseable clamp, and the lifting means may have a track on which it is moveably supported in a longitudinal and a lateral direction, whereby under the control of such as for example a microprocessor, the lifting means can be moved longitudinally, and laterally, to bring it above a selected taphole closure means, at which point the clamp may be lowered to grip the uppermost rod of the taphole closure means, and raised to lift the taphole closure means from the rack, the control means subjecting the lifting means to further transverse and longitudinal movements to bring the taphole closure means into contact with the end of a transport arm. The arrangement is such that when the clamp on the arm has gripped the uppermost rod, the clamp on the lifting means is released and the lifting means moved to a position of rest.

[0008] The transport arm may be a fixed arm on a driveable means, to carry the taphole closure to and load it into a vessel. However, the arm may be a telescopic arm, having a first arm member supported on a rotatable turret, and a second telescopic arm member the free end of which is provided with the clamp. Thus, with the telescopic arm retracted, the turret can be rotated to put the arm in its position of rest and locate the clamp in its position to receive a taphole closure means, and after receiving the taphole closure means, the turret can be rotated to bring the arm into line with a vessel, and the telescopic arm extended to load the taphole closure means into the vessel, and release it to fall on to the slag at a position above the vessel taphole Equally, the arm, fixed length or telescopic, may be hung from an appropriate crane or attached to an elevated support, and able to be moved between the vessel and the array of taphole closure means on the holder.

[0009] Two embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a part of one embodiment of the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view from above of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the point of transfer of a dart to a transport arm;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention in its position of rest.

[0014]FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4 but shows the point of gathering a dart; and

[0015]FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 4 but shows the point of transfer of a dart to a transport arm.

[0016] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a floor mounted support 1 for darts 2 in the form of a grid or rack to hold a multiple number of darts with their uppermost rods 3 and tails 4 substantially vertical.

[0017] Above the support 1 is a lifting means 5 able to be moved horizontally and transversely across the support 1 to position the lifting means over a particular dart 2. Mounted on support legs 6 is a rectangular track 7 on which a moveable frame 8 is mounted, there being motor drive means 9 with an associated chain 10 and sprocket drive to allow the moveable frame to be driven across the track. Longitudinally positioned on the frame is a mounting bar 11 on which the lifting means is mounted, the mounting bar 11 being slidably mounted in the moveable frame and there being a chain 12 and sprocket drive to position the lifting means longitudinally of the frame 8. The lateral movement of the moveable frame and longitudinal movement of the lifting means can be manually controlled, but preferably a suitably programmed micro-processor is provided to operate the drive motor.

[0018] In its position of rest, a transport arm 13 of a dart loading machine has a clamp means 14 at its end located within the confines of the track 7. When a dart is required to be loaded into the furnace, the frame 8 is driven across the track 7 and the lifting means 5 driven along the frame 8 until the lifting means is positioned over a dart 2. A clamp on the lifting means is lowered into contact with the uppermost rod 3 of that dart, and with the rod gripped, the art is lifted clear of the support 1.

[0019] A compound movement of the frame 8 and lifting means 5 brings the dart clear of the support 1, and positions it directly alongside the clamp 14 on the transport arm 13. The lifting means 5 is then rocked to tilt the dart, and a final movement of the lifting means is effected to position the uppermost rod 3 in the clamp 14.

[0020] There is then a simultaneous release of the clamp on the lifting means and activation of the clamp on the transport arm, to transfer the dart to the transport arm. The dart loading machine is then operated to swing the transport arm into alignment with an adjacent furnace door, and the transport arm urged through the door and into the furnace, when the clamp on the transport arm is released to drop the dart onto the slag in the furnace.

[0021] In the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, the whole assembly of dart loading machine, support means for darts and lifting means are suspended from strategically located roof beams, to align the transport arm with an adjacent furnace door.

[0022] Thus, a dart loading machine 15 is supported by roof beams (not shown) and has a transport arm 16 extending between side frames 17, the side frames being connected to support arms 18 extending to roof beams (not shown). At the end of the transport arm is a clamp member 19.

[0023] Attached to the side frames 17 are racks 20 for darts 21, to hold a number of darts with their uppermost rods 22 and tails 23 substantially vertical.

[0024] Mounted on one side frame 17 is a guide track 24 for a dart lifting device 25, there being a multiple number of piston and cylinder devices 26 mounted on the track to cause a forward and rearward movement of the lifting device On the lifting means is a pivotal arm 27 operated by hydraulic pistons and cylinders 28, and a clamping member 29 depends from the end of the pivotal arm.

[0025] Between the side frames is a mount and drive carriage 30 for the transport arm, and inwardly of the side frames are track means 31 for the carriage.

[0026] Thus, from a position of rest as illustrated in FIG. 4, the dart lifting device 25 is driven by hydraulic pistons and cylinders 26 to the end of the track 24, at which point, the arm 27 is pivoted to bring it over a dart on one of the racks and the clamp 29 lowered into contact with the uppermost rod 22 of the selected dart. That dart is lifted from its rack, and the arm pivoted and the lifting device position adjusted, to allow the uppermost rod 22 to be presented to the clamp 19 on the transport arm 27. The clamp 29 and the clamp 19 are simultaneously released and locked, to transfer the dart to the transport arm. The pivotal arm 27 is swung back to its operative position of rest and the lifting device withdrawn, and the carriage then activated to drive the transport arm forwards, to enter the door of an aligned furnace, and deposit the dart in the furnace.

[0027] Control over those operations mentioned above can be manual, but desirably, a microprocessor is provided, programmed to cause the sequence of movements from a position of rest to the loading of a dart in a furnace as the time to tap the furnace approaches. 

1. A means of loading a taphole closure means into a steelmaking vessel comprising a holder for at least one taphole closure means to hold the or each taphole closure means with an uppermost rod substantially vertical, lifting means able to engage the uppermost rod and lift the taphole closure means, control means to bring the lifting means to the taphole closure means in the holder and to cause further movement of the lifting means to bring the taphole closure means to the location of and into contact with a releaseable clamp means at the end of a transport arm, means to cause the lifting means to disengage from the uppermost rod and activate the releaseable clamp, and a means of moving the transport arm from a position of rest where it receives the taphole closure means to a position where it can be inserted into a steelmaking vessel to load the taphole closure means into the vessel.
 2. A means as in claim 1, wherein the holder for the taphole closure means is a rack-like structure able to hold an array of such means, each with its uppermost rod in a substantially vertical condition.
 3. A means as in claim 2, wherein the rack-like structure is floor mounted.
 4. A means as in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lifting means for the taphole closure means, is a body provided with a releaseable clamp, and the lifting means may have a track on which it is moveably supported in a longitudinal and a lateral direction.
 5. A means as in claim 4, wherein movement of the lifting means is micro-processor controlled.
 6. A means as in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transport arm is a fixed arm on a driveable means, to carry the taphole closure to and load it into a vessel.
 7. A means as in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the arm is a telescopic arm, having a first arm member supported on a rotatable turret, and a second telescopic arm member the free end of which is provided with the clamp.
 8. A means as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rack-like structure is located to one side or to both sides of side frame members suspended in an elevated position, the loading arm lying centrally of the side frame members and extending from a dart loading machine also suspended in an elevated position.
 9. A means as in claim 8, wherein the lifting means is mounted for sliding movement along a track on one of the side frame members.
 10. A means as in claim 9, wherein the drive means for the lifting means is a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement.
 11. A means as in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein a pivotal arm is provided on the lifting means with a clamping member.
 12. A means as in claim 9, wherein the pivotal arm is driven by hydraulic piston and cylinder means.
 13. A means as in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein a drive carriage is provided for the loading arm, the drive carriage being mounted on track means on the side frame members.
 14. A means as in any of claims 9 to 13, wherein micro-processor means are provided to control the movement of the lifting means from a position of rest to a position over a dart in a rack, pick-up of a dart, relocation of the dart in the clamp on the loading means, return of the lifting means to its position of rest, driving the carriage along the track to deposit a dart in an adjacent furnace, and return of the carriage and loading arm to the position of rest. 